What is Buckwheat Honey?
It is a lesser-known variety of honey that most people haven’t even heard of, let alone tried. However, it is delicious, healthy, and easy to find for sale.
Its flavor is distinctly different from that of common honey varieties and blends. Buckwheat honey is a dark, not overly sweet, honey made from buckwheat flowers.
Here’s what you need to know about Buckwheat honey and where to find it for sale online.
What is Buckwheat Honey?
Goshen Amish Buckwheat Honey |
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Sandt's Buckwheat Honey |
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Dutch Gold Buckwheat Honey |
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Bees make buckwheat honey from the nectar of buckwheat flowers.
It’s a monofloral type of honey, which means it’s made from the nectar of one plant species only—similar to the Manuka Honey.
Unlike wheat, buckwheat is not a grass, but it’s a plant that produces grain-like seeds, often used as a flour substitute. Bees must exert extra effort to gather enough nectar from this plant because the buckwheat flowers are tiny.
Honey made from buckwheat flower nectar is highly nutritious, which is why it is popular. Buckwheat honey generally looks like regular amber-colored honey, but it can also range from dark purple to black.
Buckwheat Honey Taste
Compared to your average honey, buckwheat honey isn’t as sweet.
This makes it a great alternative to other sweeter types of honey if you want to get a lot of nutritional value, but you don’t like the overly sweet taste. Clover honey, for example, is much sweeter than buckwheat varieties.
As a rule of thumb, darker honey types usually contain more antioxidants than lighter ones. With its dark color, this honey is rich in antioxidants that benefit your health.
Buckwheat Honey Benefits
Buckwheat honey is known for its ability to promote healing, boost immunity, supply antioxidants, and alleviate cough and sore throat symptoms.
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of Buckwheat Honey.
1. Increases antioxidants level
According to a 2001 study, buckwheat is among the most active kinds of honey in terms of antioxidant effects.
2. Promotes wound healing
Honey can help eliminate bacteria and draw moisture out of wounds, so using buckwheat honey on wounds can promote their healing.
3. Soothes cough
A 2007 study specifically observed the effect of using buckwheat honey for alleviating nighttime cough in children. It was found that buckwheat honey can be more effective than some over-the-counter treatments.
4. Decreases cholesterol
According to a 2015 study, buckwheat honey can help decrease cholesterol levels in the blood, which promotes cardiovascular health.
5. A better alternative to sugar
While buckwheat honey is not overly sweet, it can still be used in some recipes as a healthier alternative to sugar.
How To Use Buckwheat Honey
How you use buckwheat honey differs according to why you’re using it.
For example, if you’re using it for wound care, you can apply medical use honey directly onto the wound and then patch it up with a clean bandage.
If you want to soothe coughing, colds, or sore throats, you can swallow buckwheat honey as is or drink it after mixing it with warm herbal tea.
The American Academy of Family Physicians even recommends using buckwheat honey for the common cold in children.
Adhere to the following doses:
- Ages 2 to 5: 2.5 ml, once daily
- Ages 6 to 11: 5 ml, once daily
- And ages 12 to 18: 10 ml, once daily
Honey should never be fed to infants younger than one year old, and it is not recommended for those under two years old. It contains certain microbes that can be dangerous to babies.
If you want to use buckwheat honey as a general health supplement, mix it into your food or beverages or take a tablespoon raw. You can also use it as a natural sweetener instead of traditional sugar.
Alternatively, here are some popular recipe ideas.
Honey-glazed roasted vegetables: Use buckwheat honey to coat carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes for a rich, caramelized flavor.
Honey wheat bread: Add buckwheat honey to homemade bread dough for a deeper, earthy sweetness.
Marinades for meat: Mix buckwheat honey into marinades for chicken, pork, or lamb to add a robust sweetness and enhance browning.
Honey ginger cookies: For a richer, more molasses-like taste, swap regular honey for buckwheat honey in ginger cookies.
Barbecue sauce: Incorporate buckwheat honey into barbecue sauce for a unique, smoky sweetness that pairs well with grilled meats.
Honey mustard dressing: Combine buckwheat honey with mustard for a darker, more intense take on the classic dressing.
Honey granola bars: Use buckwheat honey in homemade granola bars for a nutrient-packed sweetener with a bold flavor.
Honey cake: To create a deep, rich flavor profile in traditional honey cakes, replace regular honey with buckwheat honey.
Baked brie with honey: Drizzle warm brie with buckwheat honey before baking for a savory and sweet appetizer.
Sweetened yogurt: Stir buckwheat honey into plain yogurt for a nutrient-dense, flavorful breakfast or snack.
Where To Buy Buckwheat Honey
Where can I buy buckwheat honey?
If you’re looking for high-quality honey made from buckwheat flowers, we’ve put together a list of the best choices available.
1. Goshen Amish Honey
The Goshen Honey Buckwheat Honey is smooth, 100% pure, and raw.
It’s unprocessed, unheated, unpasteurized, and unblended to ensure that you receive maximum health benefits.
This product contains no pesticides, pollutants, preservatives, or artificial additives. It’s also free of colors and gluten. This kosher honey is collected in upstate New York, in the Finger Lake region.
Pros:
- Smooth, raw, domestic honey
- No added colors/Gluten Free
- Use in tea, coffee, or cooking
2. Winter Park Honey
Winter Park Honey is a family-owned company that helps bees create delicious honey.
Their honey is unheated, unprocessed, and unfiltered to keep it as natural as possible. It’s made in the USA, bottled by hand, and a great company to get out and support.
Pros:
- Unheated honey
- Straight from the honeycomb
- Made in the USA
3. Sandt’s All Natural Honey
Sandt’s Buckwheat Honey is 100% pure, made from nectar gathered by bees from buckwheat flowers around Sarasota—Bradenton, Florida.
It’s unfiltered to preserve all the pollen, enzymes, antioxidants, and vitamins. It’s also free of additives and extenders.
This honey comes packaged in a plastic bottle to reduce shipping costs.
Pros:
- 100% pure unfiltered raw buckwheat honey
- Natural flavors, minerals, and nutrients
- Family-owned business
Raw Buckwheat Honey
Raw honey is the way to go, as it retains more nutrients, minerals, and good bacteria—which is why we eat it in the first place (alongside the fact that it’s delicious)!
That’s everything you need to know about buckwheat honey, and there are three great choices if you want to try it yourself.
This healthy honey can undoubtedly be an excellent nutritional addition to your diet, and it’s one of the reasons bees are so important.
You might not like buckwheat honey initially as it had quite a different flavor to the likes of cover honey, but you’ll learn to love it after a few tries!